National Occupational Classification (NOC): 21120
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Environmental health officer
- Hazardous waste inspector
- Health and safety officer
- Health standards inspector
- Pollution control inspector
- Public health inspector
- Water inspector
- Occupational health and safety officer
- Supervisor, public health inspectors
- Restaurant inspector
What do public and environmental health and safety professionals do?
Public and environmental health and safety professionals review, evaluate and monitor public health and environmental safety hazards and develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate disease and environmental impact caused by biological and chemical factors. They inspect restaurants, industrial establishments, municipal water systems, public facilities and institutions to ensure compliance with government regulations regarding sanitation, pollution control and the handling and storage of hazardous substances. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.
Public and environmental health and safety professionals perform some or all of the following duties:
- Inspect the sanitary conditions of restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions
- Conduct surveys and monitoring programs of the natural environment to identify sources of pollution
- Collect biological and chemical samples and specimens for analysis; measure physical, biological and chemical; and conduct safety and environmental audits
- Investigate health and safety related complaints, spills of hazardous chemicals, outbreaks of diseases or poisonings
- Inspect workplaces to ensure that equipment, materials and production processes do not present environmental hazards to the environment or a health and safety hazard to employees or to the general public
- Lead the development and the implementation of public safety and environmental health and safety programs and strategies to mitigate risk and optimize the general public and worker’s health and safety and environmental protection
- Initiate enforcement procedures to fine or to close an establishment contravening municipal, provincial or federal regulations
- Provide consultation and deliver training programs to employers, employees and the general public on issues of public health, environmental protection or workplace safety
Public and environmental health and safety professionals work in many subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador, including:
- 911 Federal government public administration
- 541 Professional, scientific and technical services
- 912 Provincial and territorial public administration
- 211 Oil and gas extraction
- 212 Mining and quarrying (except oil and gas)
- 221 Utilities
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook is undetermined for public and environmental health and safety professionals in Newfoundland and Labrador due to low levels of employment.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Public and environmental health and safety professionals belong to the broader occupational group 2223, 21120 (Other technical inspectors and regulatory officers). This group is forecast to be tightening (rating of 2.9 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning new labour supply will be required to meet anticipated job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 22 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 64% | Western: 5% |
| Eastern: 18% | Labrador: 5% |
| Central: 5% | NL-unspecified: 5% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as public and environmental health and safety professionals in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 300 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 55% of those employed were Male+ and 45% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 0% | 78% | 22% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do public and environmental health and safety professionals make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all public and environmental health and safety professionals in the reference year 2020 (340 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $69,500.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for public and environmental health and safety professionals in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $28.00 | $35.00 | $52.00 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $21.00 | $38.31 | $62.50 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Vessel Security
- Environmental Permitting
- Environmentalism
- Environmental Compliance
- Environmental Consulting
- Groundwater
- Project Management
- Effective Communication
- Chemistry
- Auditing
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- A bachelor’s degree in a discipline such as food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required.
- Public health inspectors employed outside Quebec require certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.
- Environmental health and safety professionals may require certification with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.